Quote:
Originally Posted by malloyd
When is the divergence point on this supposed to be? The "secret" of silk production is known in the Byzantine empire by around 550 AD, though held as an Imperial monopoly. Hindu numbers are invented sometime after 625. Lenses are classical Greek (there's a reference to a burning glass in Aristophanes' The Clouds, and not in a way that suggests the audience wouldn't understand it). The difficulty there is mostly one of manufacture - the big challenge is clear glass, there isn't much natural sand that doesn't have at least iron in it.
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The point is out time interference creating a longer lasting Rome. Silk was a major economic drag on the later classical world. Telescopes and microscopes would rework everybody's worldview. It's a Rome with 19th century tech and classical mores. Toss in the Cabal and you've got twisted swashbuckling.